Camera Craniums: The Photography Community for Enthusiasts

General Category => General Photography => Topic started by: SimonW on May 12, 2018, 07:32:59 PM

Title: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: SimonW on May 12, 2018, 07:32:59 PM
Ever since my first digital SLR my habit has been to set it to full manual with a fairly low ISO, and leave it there forever. However, This might change.....

I used to fly gliders but had to give up when my first son was born. So for my recent "round number" birthday present he signed me up for a one-day course, and came along to watch. He had never used a DSLR so I loaned him mine and set it to full "out of the box" auto mode. It wasn't a great photography situation with dark (and very cold) weather, very light white aircraft and often fast movement - yet he managed some very respectable shots, and none at all that wouldn't be usable.

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10222/normal_KS2_6908Rs_Portmoak_Gliding_ASK21.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=22145)
   
(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10222/normal_KS2_6912Rs_Portmoak_Gliding_ASK21.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=22144)

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10222/normal_KS2_6890Rs_Simon_Portmoak_Gliding_ASK21.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=22143)

I would probably crop and straighten several (as I've done here), but I think the exposures were all fine. So perhaps full auto has its uses after all!

Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Jediboy on May 12, 2018, 08:09:25 PM
This raises what I think is an interesting point. What's important, a technicay good photo or one that captures a memory?

For quite some time I wanted to capture the perfect photo (of course I never did!) but I have since realised that what matters is the memory, what the photo means. Some of my favourite photos are snaps taken on my phone - I've captured a magical moment.

If I have the time I still try to take control and get the 'perfect' photo. So I guess there is absolutely nothing wrong with auto mode.
He's done well all things considered.

And I hope you enjoyed your day gliding.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: anglefire on May 12, 2018, 09:26:33 PM
I rarely use manual - and rarely use "P" - but with my latest camera I do use Av and Tv a lot and also auto ISO (Which is brilliant most of the time) so is semi auto.

Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on May 12, 2018, 09:53:00 PM
I use manual or Aperture when taking landscapes that I have "planned" and have plenty of time to set up with filters and waiting for light etc, but when Im out hiking or on limited time I have used the scene mode and selected landscape option. Have had some fantastic results. The same when shooting the steam trains, I select the "sports" option.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: StephenBatey on May 13, 2018, 12:10:07 AM
I started photography with cameras that had no built in meter, so used a hand held one. In the 70s I started using an OM1 (then OM2 and OM4) and played match needle with the OM1 and left the others on auto (which was aperture priority on these cameras). After this excursion into the strange world of automation, I moved to medium and large format, where again the cameras I use have no built in meter - back to manual.

When I use what is actually my wife's Sony a7r/rii cameras I use manual lenses (mainly OM lenses) and set the camera to A for aperture priority. As the cameras are mirrorless, what you see is roughly what you get, and when required I can turn the exposure compensation dial.

Harking back to an earlier post
Quote from: Jediboy on May 12, 2018, 08:09:25 PM
This raises what I think is an interesting point. What's important, a technically good photo or one that captures a memory?

For quite some time I wanted to capture the perfect photo (of course I never did!) but I have since realised that what matters is the memory, what the photo means. Some of my favourite photos are snaps taken on my phone - I've captured a magical moment.


I'm using a digital camera to capture a memory (mostly) and film cameras when the image matters more than the memory - when I want something worth putting on the wall, rather than consigning to a (virtual) photo album. Or, as I tend to think of it, when I'm not producing snapshots.

Some photographs have to be as near perfect technically as possible or they are (comparatively) worthless; an architect would tend to have stringent criteria for what he's accept as a representation of his work for a catalogue or brochure. From my perspective, if I have the choice of producing a technically better image by using a different camera, and there is nothing that makes using that camera impossibly difficult in the circumstances, then I'll accept the trade off of quality over convenience. N.B. this applies to me, my choice of subject, and the way I want to render it it in the final print.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: anglefire on May 13, 2018, 08:19:59 AM
I've not used film for years - I understand why people still use it - but its not for me. I do agree though that with digital it tends to stay in that form and not get printed out. And every time I do print something out I'm always impressed as to how good they look. Must print more out!
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Reinardina on May 13, 2018, 10:02:59 AM
I used to use the 'Aperture' setting, unless I was doing street shots, where 'everything' changed all the time.
Now I only do record shots, I tend to leave the camera on auto mode, with very few exceptions.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: jinky on May 13, 2018, 10:23:43 AM
I have a little running thing going on in a facebook  photography group at the moment where the general "thing to do " it seems is to shoot fully in manual and whilst having the most up to date digital cameras with an array or excellent lenses purpose made is to ignore them and buy vintage lenses cheap off ebay ad use them with cheap adapters- again manual as it is required.Some have wondered why their first forays into wedding photography or fast moving kids and nature shots have not quite worked and I get stick at times when I encourage them to work in aperture mode and use auto iso where it works effectively for them. When I was shooting for money I must have worked in aperture mode 90% of the time and manual for the rest and it always served me well. I always suggest shooting fully automatic for the first month or two of shooting  to get composition  right before moving on to less auto methods and shoot manually only for stuff that does not matter if you fail when fresh to it.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: anglefire on May 13, 2018, 10:45:40 AM
I have little respect for people that insist everything must be manual for the picture to be a true work of art or reflection of what they saw at the time. I'm strongly in the camp of use every aid I have - given I spent a lot of money to get the best camera and lenses I could at the time - and worry about the things that matter - composition and positioning.

If I want to shoot manual, I'll drag out my old Russian TLR which cost less than £20.

Actually, to be fair, I do tend to shoot manual if using flash but not if I'm doing events (Like awards pictures Yawn!) when I use the Professional mode (P ;) )
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Hinfrance on May 13, 2018, 10:56:42 AM
DSLR - Av mode mostly, Bridge and compact programme and use programme shift to change aperture or shutter speed.

Flash - always use auto with dedicated strobes and manual with studio lights.

Yes, I am getting lazy about tweaking everything all of the time.  ;)
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: anglefire on May 13, 2018, 02:35:38 PM
Actually the latest upgrade to Lightroom seems to have improved the Auto button to be pretty much on the money most of the time. I like the new profiles too. (Sorry a bit off topic!)
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Oldboy on May 13, 2018, 10:35:15 PM
I always have the camera set at 1000s and F8 but leave ISO on auto. This is because when Nature action shots occur you don't have time to set the camera up. Mode P will set the shutter speed too slow or put the F number too low or high depending on the light levels. This gives me the most control over the shots.  :tup:
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Simple on May 14, 2018, 08:30:59 AM
For me it all depends on what I am doing and how I am feeling. Nature shots same as Oldboy. The rest mainly manual. Studio and flash nearly always manual. Weddings and other high output events I start at manual and by the late evening I am too tired to think creative anymore and use full auto.
In my classes I want my students to go to full manual by the end of the first course. At the start of the course I tell them to use the pre-set modes like portrait/landscape/sport etc. They all start with JPG so it is easy for them to see the differences.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Jediboy on May 14, 2018, 02:30:59 PM
Quote from: anglefire on May 13, 2018, 08:19:59 AM
I've not used film for years - I understand why people still use it - but its not for me. I do agree though that with digital it tends to stay in that form and not get printed out. And every time I do print something out I'm always impressed as to how good they look. Must print more out!

I was the same until recently. Every few months now I print 50 or so photos and put them in an album that we can then look at when we wish. I tend to use the offers at Tesco/photobox or anyone that has an offer on. And they are 100% family photos and we all enjoy looking at them. If I didn't do this they wouldn't get looked at.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: anglefire on May 19, 2018, 02:07:27 PM
Something that I particularly like on my 1Dx (And 1Dmk3 before it) is the ability to reprogram the * button to have preset settings - I tend to have it set for a slow shutter speed (Or sometimes a fast shutter speed!) so that I can switch between say 1/500" and 1/100" so that I can change from a car coming head on to panning as it goes past (For example!)

Switching speeds is otherwise a bit of a guess and not as quick or reliable!
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Beaux Reflets on May 25, 2018, 12:07:34 PM
Lazily, I quite often take advantage of the Auto ISO setting, bearing in mind it is / was not an option when using film.  :tup:
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: jinky on May 25, 2018, 12:50:30 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on May 14, 2018, 02:30:59 PM
Quote from: anglefire on May 13, 2018, 08:19:59 AM
I've not used film for years - I understand why people still use it - but its not for me. I do agree though that with digital it tends to stay in that form and not get printed out. And every time I do print something out I'm always impressed as to how good they look. Must print more out!

I was the same until recently. Every few months now I print 50 or so photos and put them in an album that we can then look at when we wish. I tend to use the offers at Tesco/photobox or anyone that has an offer on. And they are 100% family photos and we all enjoy looking at them. If I didn't do this they wouldn't get looked at.

I`m the same and regularly pick up cheap 100 page albums on Groupon and such with Smileyhippo and Huggler who do nice hardback books at great prices with Groupon deals. Tend to use them for holiday trips or our granddaughter shots
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Mick on May 25, 2018, 06:22:16 PM
I shoot most of my stuff using aperture priority mode, at least I have some control, especially useful for macro stuff if I remember.  :legit:
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: anglefire on May 25, 2018, 06:43:30 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on May 25, 2018, 12:07:34 PM
Lazily, I quite often take advantage of the Auto ISO setting, bearing in mind it is / was not an option when using film.  :tup:

I use auto ISO 90% of the time - I love it ! Yes its a "cheat" - but do I care - does this  8)  face look like it  :2funny:
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on May 25, 2018, 08:21:07 PM
Quote from: anglefire on May 25, 2018, 06:43:30 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on May 25, 2018, 12:07:34 PM
Lazily, I quite often take advantage of the Auto ISO setting, bearing in mind it is / was not an option when using film.  :tup:

I use auto ISO 90% of the time - I love it ! Yes its a "cheat" - but do I care - does this  8)  face look like it  :2funny:

I confess to not having used auto iso for some 10 yrs or so.
I have always been "scared" of it after using my Nikon D50 6mp camera one day and it was left on from a previous dusk/night shoot.
All the days shots were very noisy and useless so since that day have just relied on the manual iso settings.
Might give it another try out.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: jinky on May 26, 2018, 09:27:18 AM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on May 25, 2018, 12:07:34 PM
Lazily, I quite often take advantage of the Auto ISO setting, bearing in mind it is / was not an option when using film.  :tup:

Auto iso mode works flawlessly on Fuji X. On my Nikon it seems much more hit and miss and goes to higher isos when not necessary.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: Beaux Reflets on May 26, 2018, 11:07:31 AM
Quote from: anglefire on May 25, 2018, 06:43:30 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on May 25, 2018, 12:07:34 PM
Lazily, I quite often take advantage of the Auto ISO setting, bearing in mind it is / was not an option when using film.  :tup:

I use auto ISO 90% of the time - I love it ! Yes its a "cheat" - but do I care - does this  8)  face look like it  :2funny:


I don't consider it a cheat, just an 'advance' in camera technology that effectively on the whole, makes it relatively quick and easier to get a good exposure without much thought, training or skill.
Title: Re: Camera's Automatic Settings
Post by: StephenBatey on May 26, 2018, 10:30:00 PM
I use the Sony a7rii on aperture priority because I use old lenses and there's no way the camera can stop them down (or open them up). I used the same system on my OM2 and OM4 again because it was the only auto mode. On my meterless cameras, I also use the same system of aperture priority, because I settle the aperture first and then adjust the shutter speed to suit.

The nearest I could come to auto ISO would be push and pull processing of the film - something I've never attempted in 60 years of using film. Except once with a new (to me) film which was an almost total disaster.